One day after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush-money trial, Donald Trump addressed reporters at Trump Tower, repeating grievances about the case and vowing to appeal. Speaking from the atrium of his New York skyscraper, Trump insisted the trial was “rigged” and attacked the judge and prosecutors, though he avoided naming them directly due to a gag order.
Trump portrayed himself as a political martyr and continued to claim the case was a hoax orchestrated by political opponents, despite the trial being handled by New York prosecutors. “If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone,” Trump said, calling the judge a “tyrant” and the prosecution team “sick people.”
He reiterated his belief that the non-disclosure agreement was legal and not a hush-money payment, expressing confidence that the conviction would propel him to victory in the November election. Trump declared, “The people of our country know it’s a hoax, they know it’s a scam,” and vowed to “appeal this scam” on multiple grounds.
Trump also criticized the Biden administration, alleging political persecution. “This is all done by [President Joe] Biden and his people. This is done by Washington,” he said, despite the case being managed by New York authorities. Biden responded by calling Trump’s claims reckless and irresponsible.
The Biden-Harris campaign quickly rebuked Trump, with communications director Michael Tyler stating, “America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system. This man cannot be president of the United States.”
Despite the conviction, Trump emphasized his significant fundraising haul since the verdict, claiming to have raised $39 million. This, he argued, demonstrated the strong support he continues to have from his base.
Joined by supporters, his legal and campaign team, and family members at Trump Tower, Trump maintained his defiant stance. “In a way, I’m honored,” he said. “It’s not pleasant. It’s very bad for family, it’s very bad for friends and businesses, but I’m honored to be involved in it because somebody has to do it.”
Throughout his 35-minute speech, Trump avoided taking questions from the press, focusing instead on his determination to continue fighting the legal battles ahead. He reaffirmed his commitment to appeal the decision, criticizing the trial’s venue and timing.
“This is something where I’m wired in such a way that a lot of people would have gone away a long time ago,” Trump said. “But I’m going to keep fighting, and we’re going to show them that we won’t back down.”